Methods of scale inhibition using polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids and their salts

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to methods of scale inhibition using polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids and their salts.

ii iien Dnieni Inventor George J. Knuisiry Los Angeles, Calif.

Appl. No. 48,164

Filed June 22,1970

Patented Nov. 9, 197B Assignee 'Ilexiiinna Corporation Hawthorne, Calili.

METHODS OF SCALE IINHIUBJITIION USHNG POLYAILKYILIENE POLYAMENO IPOLYKHS METHYILENE PHOSPHONIC ACIDS AND THEIR SALTS 241 Claims, 11 Drawing Fig.

[1.5. (III 2110/58, 2 l/2.7, 252/855, 252/180, 260/500 [5 1] Em. C! C02b 5/06 [50] Field! of Search 210/58; 252/82, 180, 8.55; 260/500; 2 H27 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,434,969 3/1969 Ralston 210/58 3,502,587 3/1970 Stanford et ul. 2 [0/58 X Primary Examiner-Michael Rogers Artorneys-Philip Subkow and Kendrick and Subkow ABSTRACT: This invention relates to methods of scale inhibition using polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids and their salts.

FATENTEDNHV 9 Ian 3,619,427

INVENTOR 650666 J Ml/KSKV A FOE/V6 V5 The fields to which the invention relates include compounds which have the property of inhibiting the precipitation of salts from waters containing the same and processes for prevention of formation of scale such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and barium sulfate, in systems where such scale is encountered.

This invention also relates to a process for inhibition of corrosion of ferrous bodies.

This invention also relates to a process for sequestration of cations such as iron, copper and aluminum.

This invention also relates to the treatment of oil, water and gas wells to inhibit scale depositions in formations on well surfaces. The severity of scaling increases with the concentration of the precipitating ions (Ca** and S0, or C or Ba and S0, and with the temperature of water. Calcium sulfate and carbonate, as well as barium sulfate, exhibit inverse solubility with respect to temperature.

Scale is known to obstruct passage of water and oil in producing wells and in the oil-bearing formations. It leads to thick deposits in heat exchangers and boilers, causing a poor heat transfer. It plugs filters. lt plugs pores in sand and rock formations and thus causes an increase in line pressures and increase of resistance in water disposal and in secondary oil recovery systems, requiring a general increase in pressure. Scale contributes to corrosion in pipe lines and water lines.

Corrosion in turn accelerates the buildup of scale deposits; corroded, rough surfaces offer sites for scale crystals to adhere. The combination of corrosion and scale crystal growth leads to costly failures in industrial equipment.

As will be shown below, the compounds of my invention are corrosion as well as scale inhibitors, and thus they have the dual function of inhibiting the deposition of scale and protecting against corrosion, which cooperates in the prevention of scale and the prevention of plugging permeable systems, such as oil and water natural reservoirs.

This invention relates to compounds of the general formula:

is an alkylene amino methylene phosphonic acid moiety of a polymeric alkylene amine methylene phosphonic radical containing n moieties, where R is an alkylene radical in an uninterrupted chain of from at least two carbons up to and including] 2 carbons, and n is from I to 5 moieties, in which at least one of the moieties contains an R of at least six carbon atoms, and Y is a methylene phosphinic acid radical:

where M and M are hydrogen, alkali metal or an equivalent of a polyvalent metal ion such as zinc, calcium or ammonium, an alicyclic polyamine, or a heterocyclic amine radical; and this invention relates to the process for the production of such compounds.

The compounds of my invention, in their acid form, may be considered inner salts. Thus, for example, and without limitation of my invention, the following illustrates the nature of the inner salts:

There are thus available seven equivalents of acidic hydrogen. ln like manner, salts of the compounds of my invention will also be analogous inner salts in which the salbforming cations will neutralize acid hydrogens not so internally neutralized, as will be understood by those skilled in this art.

The acid forms of surface-active polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids have an average molecular weight in the range of about 600 to about 2,000, as determined by Thermonam analysis (ASTM Part 17 Method D2502). The preferred molecular weight of the acid form is in the range of about 600 to 800.

As will be shown below, the compounds of my invention are chelating agents.

Characteristic of the compounds which are suitable as aforesaid are the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid radicals are at least equal in number to the amino hydrogens of the alkylene amine: radicals of the compounds of my invention. That is, all of the amine radicals of the polyalkylene polyamine radicals have been substituted by methylene phosphonic acid radicals and are thus substantially free of secondary and primary amine hyd rogens.

The following are some examples conformable with the compounds of my invention, and which are useful in the process of my invention described herein:

Y N(CH;,) -NY-(CH -NY-(ClH ),;-l 1Y and the alkali metal, alkaline earth and other polyvallent cation salts, the amino and substituted amino, primary and secondary amine salts of the foregoing.

Compounds as described above, which contain one or more equivalents of labile hydrogen per average molecular weight of the compound, are in their acid form ineffective as scale inhibitors, even though they may otherwise have the molecular weight, nitrogen content and phosphonic acid content to conform to the aforementioned formulas.

l have found that the presence of substantial amounts of the compound containing unsubstituted nitrogens, so as to leave a labile hydrogen associated with any of the nitrogens of the amine radical, produces compounds which, in dilute solutions, such as are used in commercial treatment of water for scale inhibition, cause precipitation of a portion of the compounds. Such compounds, at concentrations of about 5 percent by weight of the compound in water, a concentration frequently used in oil well operations, are unsuitable for oil field use.

I therefore desire that the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids or the salts thereof, for use as scale preventers or corrosion inhibitors, be substantially free of such phosphonic acid or salts thereof containing trivalent amino nitrogens in which all of the valences are not satisfied by methylene phosphonic acid radicals, herein referred to as the incompletely substituted analogue of the aforesaid completely substituted analogue. Thus, for example, it is desirable to exclude substantial quantities of the aforesaid analogous compounds wherein not all of the secondary and primary amine valences are satisfied by a Y radical.

A satisfactory test for determining the presence of an excessive proportion of the unsubstituted compounds, which are desired to be excluded from the subject matter of this inven tion, is to dissolve about 5 percent by weight of the compound in water. Any turbidity of the water sufficient to precipitate about 0.2 percent of the compound, i.e., more than about 0.4 percent by weight of the added compound], indicates an excessive amount of the unsubstituted product. Compounds which at such concentrations do not show the aforesaid turbidity are herein referred to as soluble in water.

For use in treatment of oil wells, water wells and gas wells, I prefer compounds which do not contain the unsubstituted amine hydrogens as aforesaid, as well as compounds which are soluble as aforesaid.

In order to prevent the formation of the incompletely substituted polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid, I have found it preferable that there be at least one phosphonic acid molecule present for each labile hydrogen in the primary and secondary amine radicals in the polyamine reactant, in the reaction mixture used to produce the resultant compound, when the reactants are condensed through the formaldehyde reaction described below.

The FIGURE of the drawing illustrates in schematic form the apparatus referred to in the following description.

The preferred process for the formation of compounds of my invention is carried out by feeding phosphorous trichloride through 3 and sparger 3b directly into a body of water in a vessel 1, while stirring vigorously with motorized stirrer 8. The vessel is equipped with a heating jacket 2, a cooling coil 2a, and a reflux condenser 4, which is connected to a trap 5, provided with a liquid return line 6, and to a hydrochloric acid scrubbing system 8 through line 7.

The vessel is filled with the required amount of water, and phosphorous trichloride is introduced directly into the body of water to form hydrochloric acid and phosphonic acid.

I have found it preferable to introduce the PCI;, directly into the body of water and to stir vigorously during the reaction. l also prefer to control the addition rate of the phosphorous trichloride slowly into the body of water by feeding the phosphorous trichloride underneath the body of water through the feeder pipe 3. The rate of addition must be controlled to prevent the generation of orange phosphorous and phosphene gas.

It has been found desirable that the rate of addition, when about three-quarters of the required amount of phosphorous trichloride has been added, shall be carefully monitored and introduced slowly, in order to avoid such undesirable side reactions.

A further undesirable consequence of an improper addition of the phosphorous trichloride is the distillation of hydrochlo ric acid which passes through the condenser and into the hydrochloric acid tower and carries phosphonic acid with it.

When all of the phosphorus trichloride has been added, and this occurs at ambient temperature, the temperature of the batch rises due to reaction exotherm, cooling is applied to hold the temperature to about 200 to 220 F., and time is allowed to complete the reaction of the PCI;, with water to produce the phosphonic acid. lt is important that constant rapid agitation be maintained during the period of addition and the subsequent high temperature reaction stage.

By following this precaution, I find that I avoid the production ofincompletely substituted compounds.

When the phosphorous trichloride has reacted, the requisite amount of polyamine is introduced into the body of the reaction mixture in the vessel ll through 3a. The amount of amine which is added should be at least equal to a molar ratio of 1 mole of PCl or the equivalent phosphonic acid HPO(OH) for each equivalent of labile amino hydrogen in the polyalkylene polyamine employed in the reaction. When dihexylene triamine is employed, it is desirable to have at least one mole of amino to 5 moles of PCL and preferably to avoid any excess of the amine. It is desirable to have a molar excess of PCI for example, of5 percent to percent.

The temperature of addition of the amine is about 100 to about 120 F., and therefore the reaction mixture of the phosphonic acid should be cooled from the temperature of 200 to 230 F. down to about 100 to 120 F.

After all of the amine has been added, the temperature is raised to about 200 to 220 F., and an aqueous solution of formaldehyde is added through the sparger 3a. The formaldehyde rate of addition must be controlled so that the temperature does not rise excessively, since the reaction is exothermic. The rate is controlled by the cooling coil so as to produce a steady reflux.

Themolar amounts of formaldehyde which are added shall be at least equal to the molar quantities of PCl which are used and preferably somewhat in excess, for example, l0 percent to 20 percent molar excess.

When all of the formaldehyde is added, the vessel, which is at a temperature of about 200 to 220 F., is held for several hours to complete the reaction and is then cooled to about 150 F. Assuming the reaction with the dihexylene triamine, the reaction scheme is about as follows:

By employing the mixing technique described above, l may avoid the formation of substantial quantities of compounds other than the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic compounds of my invention in which all of the primary amino hydrogens of the polyamine precursor have been substituted by methylene phosphonic acid radicals.

In the case of example 1, l have found, for example, where inadequate mixing occurs, resulting in part from the introduction of the PCl through the top of the reactor, a substantial quantity of incompletely substituted compounds is produced. For example:

Compounds produced by the above variant of the preferred process did not possess the solubility to the extent stated above, i.e., are not classified as soluble compounds.

The product produced is a water solution of the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids, which may be contaminated by halogen compounds resulting from the residual chloride ions derived from the PCl employed in the reaction.

The solution is normally at a pH of about 2 to 4. This solution may be used in that form in the processes of scale inhibition, corrosion protection and chelation in oil well treatment described herein. However, the polykis acid may be isolated from the solution by the following procedure.

The solution is concentrated, preferably at a moderate temperature for example, under vacuum at a temperature less than 212 F., to a concentration such that the solution is fluid at ambient temperatures. For example such a solution will have a concentration of about 70 percent to percent by weight ofthe polykis acid.

A solution of alkali metal hydroxide, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, is added to adjust the pH to about 9 to 10. The chloride ions present in the solution are converted to potassium chloride or sodium chloride by the alkali metal hydroxide. The alkali metal chlorides will precipitate when the mixture is at ambient temperature, e.g., in the range of about 60 to 80 F., and the free liquor may be decanted or removed by filtration.

The solution of the polykis acid may be further concentrated and dried under vacuum, for example 28 inches or 30 inches of vacuum. The resultant polykis acid is in the form of the alkali metal salt.

An alternative procedure is to concentrate the reaction mixture as above and, instead of neutralizing, I may add to one volume of the solution about 2 to 4 volumes of a lower alkyl alcohol of, for example, one to three carbon atoms, e.g.. methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol, in an amount sufficient to precipitate the polykis acid substantially free of chloride ions.

The precipitate may be separated by decantation or filtration and the precipitate washed with the above alcohols to further purify the polykis acid by removing the contaminating halogen compounds.

Thus, for example, the compounds of my invention set forth in the herein tables and the salts thereof will have solubilities to the degree set forth herein.

The following is an example of a preferred preparation using dihexylene amine, which will produce a dihexylene triamino pentakis methylene phosphonic acid, which is a preferred compound for use in the process of my invention.

EXAMPLEI Vessel l is filled with 8,700 pounds of soft water. The stirrer is started. Refrigerated water is passed through the cooling coil. Addition of PC1 is started through 3 and the sparger, slowly at a steady rate of about 100 gallons per hour. The rate of addition is moderated, and cooling is applied in order to prevent the carryover of liquid through the reflux condenser.

When about 5,000 pounds of PC1 have been added, the rate of addition of the PC1 is reduced to about 20 gallons per hour, until a total of 6,060 pounds has been added.

When all of the PCl has been added (and this will take about hours), any condensate in trap 5 is returned to the vessel l. The temperature of the vessel is then raised to about 220 F. and is held for about 6 hours to complete the reaction of PCl and to produce the phosphonic acid.

The liquid contains a mixture of phosphorous acid and hydrochloric acid. Nitrogen is blown through the mixture at a rate of 2 to 4 cubic feet per minute at 200 to 210 F., until most of the hydrochloric acid is displaced. This may take about 2 hours. The chloride ion content in the mixture is determined by a standard chemical analysis. Residual chloride ion as HCl is typically 1.5 percent to 3 percent.

Alternatively vacuum can be used to remove the excess of hydrogen chloride, or both nitrogen purge and vacuum can be used. 1

The mixture of phosphonic acid, hydrochloric acid and water in the vessel 1. is cooled to about 120 F., and 2,200 pounds of dihexylene triaminc is added in a steady stream to the body of the vessel l. The amine is a commercial product as described hereinafter.

When all of the dihexylene triamine is added, the temperature is raised to about 2 l 5 F., and 4000 pounds of 37 percent aqueous formaldehyde is added through the sparger. The formaldehyde rate of addition must be controlled so that the temperature does not rise excessively, since the reaction is exothermic. The rate is controlled so as to produce a steady reflux.

When all of the formaldehyde is added (this usually takes about 5 hours), the vessel is heated to 200-210 F., and the mixture is held for about 6 hours to complete the reaction and then cooled to l50 F. and discharged.

For simplicity, the pure amine is included in the above reaction scheme. It will be understood, however, that the other polyamine fractions will react according to the above scheme, adjusting the molar ratios to provide for an excess of PCL, and consequent excess of phosphonic acid above the stoichiomet ric ratios.

The above example will produce about l6,500 pounds of triamino dihexylene pentakis phosphonic acids, containing some tetramino trihexylene hexakis methylene phosphonic acid, substantially free of any phosphonic acid derivatives containing an amine hydrogen associated with an amine nitrogen, unsubstituted by the methylene phosphonic acid radical.

It will be recognized that, because of the presence of hydrochloric acid in the mixture when the amine is added, it will enter the reaction as the hydrochloric acid salt; and the reaction therefore occurs with the salt of the amine.

As explained above, the reaction mixture is a water solution of the polykis acid and halogen compounds. I may isolate the polykis acid in the manner described above.

The solution as produced in example I will run about 45 percent by weight of the polykis acid and contains some chloride ions. The pH of the solution is about 2. The withdrawn solution is vacuum distilled at a temperature of about 180 to 200 F., to concentrate the solution to about 70 percent to 80 percent by weight of the polykis acid. The solution is cooled to ambient temperature, for example to 80 F., and brought to a pH of about 9 to 10 by sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, employed at a concentration so as not to cause excessive dilution, for example, keeping the concentration of the polykis acid to about percent to percent by weight.

The KCl and NaCl which are fonned will crystallize from the solution, and the potassium or sodium chloride may be separated from the potassium or sodium salts of the polykis acid, which would be in the mother liquor, by decantation or filtration. The mother liquor may be concentrated under vacuum and the polykis acid dried under vacuum, keeping the temperature below about 2 l 2 F.

If the free acid is desired to be separated, l may proceed in the manner described above by acidifying the salt with, for ex ample, hydrochloric acid, and removing the alkali metal hydrochloride salt by crystallization and drying the acid under vacuum in the manner described above.

An alternative procedure is to treat the reaction mixture produced in vessel 1 with alcohol in the manner previously described, and isolate the polykis acid as described above. The resultant acid will be substantially pure.

Because of is availability and cost, I prefer to employ the commercial product composed of about 3 moles Y N(C,,H )NY-C,,H, NY to about 1 mol 2N(CIiHI2) YC ;H g NYC H NY Where the compound is referred to lierein, it will be understood that it may contain the polymeric forms derived from the polyamines of higher polymeric forms referred to above.

In example I, the amine was composed of the triamine and the tetramine as aforesaid.

The compounds of this invention possess surfactant properties in aqueous solutions. The data and comparisons with other amino methylene phosphoric acids are shown in terms of surface tension reduction in water in table I.

TABLE I.-DYNES/SQUARE CENTIME'IER SURFACE TENSION OF POLY MERIC ALKYL PHOSPHONIC ACIDS SOLUTIONS [Tenslometerz DuNo iiy Tensiometer6 mm. platinum ring. Y :in the structures below equals t0CH2-PO (OH) 2] Concentration per cent by weight in distilled water, percon t centimeter It was found that 00165616615 which produce the surface tension reduction are outstanding scale inhibitors under dynamic conditions encountered in the field.

Comparing compounds (1)(3) of my invention with (4)-(8) and also with distilled water (9), it will be seen that the compounds of my invention are excellent surface active agents, while compounds (4)-(8) are essentially inactive. This illustrates the effect of the presence of the polymeric amine radical and the advantage of the presence of the hexylene radical in the polymeric amine radical.

The following data illustrate the effectiveness of the compounds of my invention in inhibiting the crystallization of calcium sulfate and their effect upon the degree of scale protection.

Laboratory Test A dynamic test of calcium sulfate crystallization in an agitated system was developed to examine the performance of various additives. The test is carried out as follows:

Solutions A. 5 percent Sodium chloride in distilled water.

B. 3 percent Calcium chloride in solution A.

C. 3 percent Sodium sulfate in solution A.

Procedure Introduce the tested additive in the desired concentration into 50 ml. ofsolution B in a 250 ml. beaker.

Place 50 ml. of solution C into another 250 ml. beaker.

Place both beakers on a hot plate and agitate.

When temperature of the liquid in the beaker has reached 140 F., pour solution B into solution C and continue to agitate for 5 minutes at 140 F.

Transfer quantitatively the contents from the test beaker into a I00 ml. calibrated centrifuge tube and allow to digest for one-half hour.

Centrifuge the scale for minutes at a medium speed.

Read and record the volume of scale. Run a blank employing the same conditions but without the addition of the inhibitor.

The results ofthis test are summarized in table II.

Analogous compounds (5), (6) and (7), containing unsubstituted amino nitrogens, showed no scale inhibition by the above test.

Comparing the compounds of my invention (l)-(4) with compounds (5)(9), it will be observed that the compounds of my invention are much superior. It required 10 times as much of the cyclohexylene diamino tetrakis phosphonic acid to obtain incomplete protection, while the compounds of my invention, at the lower concentrations. gave substantially complete protectlon.

While the ethylene diamino tetrakis phosphonic acid required conversion to the sodium salt form to be at all soluble and could not be dissolved in the acid form, it was substantially inactive. It required more than times the concentration to get incomplete protection. The incompletely sub stituted analogues were inactive.

The result of this inhibition is the retention of the salts in solution. This is illustrated by the following data.

By inhibiting crystallization, the additives raise the concentration of CaSO and CaCO in solution. Results in a static test employing various concentrations of the scaling compounds in excess of their solubility limits. a various temperature. are shown in table III.

To the solutions of salts at the concentrations indicated in the table, the compounds were added in the indicated concentrations. The mixtures were allowed to stand at the indicated temperatures for the stated periods. The titration of calcium ions was performed by the Schwarzenbach method. utilizing the ethylene diamino tetracetic acid as a titrant.

'IAIILE lI.--SCALE INHIBITION OF VARIOUS POLYMERIC PHOSPIIONA'IES [(lmttlltlons: tomperature F., concentration-(Ja+ 5,000 p.p.m.; S01 10,000 p.p.m.;

NaCl 5%. Y in the structures below equals t0(JIIzIO(O 11):]

l l l l g 22 ll 50 l at? l l l l The percent scale protection is determined by dividing the difference between the volume of the scale deposited using the inhibitor and the volume of the scale produced in the blank. as the numerator, by the volume of the scale produced in the lank as the denominator multiplied by I04).

"In the form at" the sodium sal. The acid form not neutralized by sodium was insoluble in distilled water. Only 20 parts per million could be introduced into solution 'lAlllilfl Ill. CONCENTRATION OF PRECIPITATING SALTS- C8804 AND CaCOa-IN SOLU- TIONS CONTAINING SCALE INHIBITORS Conccn- I'Iard- 'Icm- P.p.m. Hard- P.p.m. tratton ncss pera- CaSO; ncss CaCO; p.p.m., p.p.m. turc alter 24 p.p.m. after 24 Additive Inhibitor CaSO hours C3003 hours None 15, 000 75 a, 600 225 30 1. 2 15, 000 75 5, 160 I YzN(CIIz)uN(Y)(CII2)uNY2 2.4 15,000 75 10,300 225 225 4. 8 15, 000 75 15, 000 225 225 1. 2 15, 000 75 4, 900 225 22s 2. Y2N[(C1'I2)6N(Y)]2(CIIZ)IIN Y2 2. 4 15, 000 75 0,150 225 225 4. 8 15, 000 75 14, 000 225 225 1. 2 15, 000 75 3, 900 2. 4 15, 000 75 4, 200 3 Y2N(CH2)2N(Y) (CH2)2NY2 4. 8 15,000 75 5,050 225 205 10. I5, 000 75 7, 310 225 190 20. 0 15, 000 75 13, 800 225 182 4. 8 15, 000 75 4, 300 225 170 l NY: 10. 0 15, 000 75 6, 520 225 170 20.0 15, 000 75 11, 810 225 176 None 10, 000 I40 3, 000 225 I 1. 2 10, 000 140 4, 400 225 225 Y2N(O I'I2)sN(Y) (CIILQuNY: 2.4 10,000 140 8,150 225 210 4. 8 I0, 000 I40 0, 080 225 210 I. 2 10,000 140 4, 100 225 I 2. Y2N[((I lIz)nN(Y)I2(CII2)aN Y: 2. 4 I0, 000 I 7, 020 225 I I. 8 I0, 000 140 I0, 000 225 210 4. 0 I0, 000 I40 3, 800 225 180 3.. YgN(Cllg)gNlI((lIIz) NlI((Jll:)2NYu l0.0 l0,000 I40 750 225 I50 20. 0 10,000 I40 0, 200 225 I78 I 4. 8 10,000 140 3, I00 225 4 c N Y; 10.0 I0, 000 3, 500 225 130 I 20. 0 I0, 000 I40 7, 300 225 I20 c I Nmlo 7, 500 185 2, 300 225 40 l. 2 7, 500 185 3, 315 225 I80 I. YzNl(CII2)flNY]z(CIIz) NY1 2.4 7,500 185 (1,200 225 4. ii 7, 500 185 7, 480 225 I60 I. 2 7, 500 185 3, 020 225 180 L YzNfll I I:)1;N(Y)((/ l I2)aNY: 2. 4 7, 500 5, 750 225 I00 4. H 7, 500 I85 7, 500 225 I00 I 4. 8 7, 500 I85 2, 800 225 00 ii c NY: 10. 0 7, 500 I85 3, 100 225 00 I 20 0 7, 500 I85 4, (I00 225 I00 Comparing the compounds of my invention (1) and (2) with compounds (3) and (4), it will be seen that the compounds of my invention give a substantially greater degree of scale inhibition at less than a quarter of the concentration required from compounds (3) and (4) for inferior scale inhibition.

Surface active polymeric alkyl phosphonic acids were tested as corrosion inhibitors in sour waters containing l00,000 p.p.m. sodium chloride and 0.5 ml. of acetic acid per liter; test solutions were saturated with hydrogen sulfide and tested according to the Wheel test" described by A. C. Nestle, Simulated Field Usage Testing Organic Inhibitors for Oil and Gas Wells," Materials Protection, Vol. 7, page 3 I, Jan. I968.

It will be seen that, whereas products (3) and (4) have no corrosion inhibition properties, the compounds of my invention have substantial corrosion protection properties.

The results are shown in table IV.

TABLE IV.CORROSION INHIBITION BY POLYMERIC All tests were run for 24 hours at room temperature, 70 F.

Percent protection is determined as the ratio of the difference between the coupon weight loss with the blank and the coupon weight loss using the inhibitor, divided by the coupon weight loss of the blank, multiplied by I00.

Poly-alkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids of this invention show excellent compatibility with cationic surface-active amines.

The resulting salts are corrosion inhibitors, as shown in table V.

TABLE V.IERFORMANCE OF IOLYWERIC ALKYL I Corrosion tests were run in sour brine 24 hours at room temperature (70 F.), in the presence of constant inhibitor concentration, by the "Wheel test" procedure referred to previously.

Polymeric polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acids of this invention exhibit chelating properties and show excellent dispersant properties for iron. Tests for dispersing power and chelation were run visually by titration of an inhibitor solution (500 p.p.m.) at constant pH with a 4 percent solution of ferric chloride to an end point of per manent turbidity after 10 hours standing. Results are shown in table VI.

llli

TABLE Vl.--CIIELA'I[ON AND DISPERSION OF IRON BY POLYMERIC ALICYLENE POLYAMINO IOLYKIS METH- YLENE PHOSPIIONAIES 4% FeCla added to 200 ml. 0.05% solution of additive to acliiovo permanent. turbidity.

2 By 100 pounds of additive.

The chelating and dispersing properties of polymeric alkyl phosphonic acids are very important in the boiler treatment, in pipe lines, and in the oil field. Additives with chelating properties remove existing deposits and contribute to cleanliness of the system.

In using the compounds of my invention as scale inhibitors, advantage is taken of the solubility product of the calcium salt of the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid employed, at the pH of the involved water.

Thus, for example, employing the compounds formed according to example I, the amount of the polyalkylene polyamine polykis methylene phosphonic acid required to prevent deposition of calcium sulfate or the calcium salt ofthe above polyalkylene polyamine polykis methylene phosphonic acid at various pH s is as follows in table ll.

The following table gives the concentrations of the above pentakis methylene phosphonic acid which will hold calcium sulfate and calcium salt of the above acid in solution at the indicated pH. The test was conducted at ambient temperature in water containing 5000 parts per million of Ca ions and 10,000 parts per million sulfate ions at 140 F.

TABLE VI] Weight Parts per million pH of compound avoc- If the concentration at the various pH values is exceeded, the calcium salt of the polykis acid precipitates. If the concentration is less than the lower limit, calcium sulfate is precipitated.

ln carrying out the process of scale inhibition in systems such as water lines and pumps, boilers and hot water heaters, depending on the pH of the water and temperature encountered, I add a concentrated solution of the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid to introduce into the water an amount of the acid which will, according to the static test described in connection with table lll, produce substantially no precipitation, as indicated by the substantial equality of the Ca ion content of the sample before and after treatment in said test.

For example, for waters of pH 6 to 8, a useful concentration of the compound to be established in the water shall be from about 2 to about 200 parts by weight per million of the polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

The introduction may be made into the circulating water by conventional methods.

In carrying out corrosion protection of ferrous structures in contact with waters, 1 may make a preliminary test, as described in connection with table IV, to determine the concentration of the compound to give the desired protection. However, suitable protection will be found to be attained in normal water media when employing the compounds at the concentrations set forth above i.e., 2 to 200 parts by weight per million.

By measuring the pH of the water treated, the addition rate of the polyalkylene polyamino polykis phosphonic acid employed can be adjusted to inhibit scale formation in water lines, boiler and other systems in which scale is desired to be inhibited.

In addition to the inhibition of scale, the compounds will also act as corrosion inhibitors, as described above.

An additional advantage is obtained by employing salts of the acids of my invention, particularly the salts shown in table V.

Particularly useful compounds are salts formed from a mixture of the following substituted morpholine compounds in the approximate mixture as follows:

A. bis-2-(4 morpholinyl) ethyl ether, about 60 percent:

B. 4 (2-aminoethoxy) ethyl morpholine, about 25 percent:

C. 2 (4-morpholinyl ethoxy) ethanol, about l5 percent:

Such salts are particularly useful in ranges of temperature of 200 C. for water treatment.

Other useful salts include salts of the alkyl amido polyalkylene amines, RCOONHR,NH-R NH wherein R is an alkyl chain of C to C carbon atoms and R and R are alkyl radicals of two to six carbon atoms. For example salts of:

The compounds of my invention are also useful in the treatment of waters used in water drites and other secondary recovery methods, to inhibit scale formation in the formations, the well, lines and equipment used in connection therewith. Particularly useful and preferred for that purpose are the substituted morpholine salts referred to above. For example, may employ about 0.5 to 2 pounds of the compounds of my invention per I00 barrels of water treated.

In many cases it is desirable to inhibit corrosion in lines of producing oil wells where also the water cut of the oil is sufficiently high so that scale deposition is a factor. [n such cases, I proceed by the squeeze method to introduce either an oilsoluble form or a water-soluble form of the compounds of my invention, in their calcium salt form, into the formation. Usually about to about 1,000 pounds of the scale inhibitor of my invention are introduced into the formation.

Suitable compounds of the oil-soluble form are the amine salts, the amine cation of which is an amine such as, for exam- 0 ple, the salt of the amine, item (D) supra, and the acid of ex- 'nitrogens is associated withone ventional nonionic surfactant. Alternative to the ethyl alcohol I may use isopropyl alcohol, and instead of toluene I may use benzene or xylene or mixtures thereof. The purpose is to produce a common solvent for the compound and the oil.

For example, I may introduce into the well flow tube, which has been drawn down, 1 l gallons of the above solution of the salt ofcompound D, and then follow with lOO barrels of the oil produced from the well. Pressure is applied to the oil to force the solution into the formation.

These figures are merely illustrative, and the amounts will depend on the permeability of the formation and the volume ofthe liner in the well, as will be understood by those skilled in this art.

This procedure may usefully be repeated periodically at intervals of about 3 to l2 months. The level of the concentration of the compound in the production stream is monitored by determining the concentration of inhibitor by oxidizing the polyphosphonic compound to orthophosphate with sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate or other suitable oxidizing agents such a as perchlorate or hypochlorous acid. The phosphateis determined, for example, colorimetrically, as the phosphomolybdate complex, compared with a standard phosphate solution. The equivalent amount of the salt of D present in the sample can be determined by a simple stoichiometric calculation.

The concentration of the salt ofcompound D of parts per million or higher is deemed a safe level. When the content drops to as low as 5 parts per million, it is desirable to repeat the above treatment.

A particularly useful reservoir treatment to prevent scale deposition is to employ the water-soluble partial calcium salt of the phosphonic acids of my invention, for example, thealkaline earth inner salt of the polyalkylene amino pentakis phosphonic acid, as stated above, in which each of the amine of the protons of the acid hydroxyl groups of the phosphonic acid. Preferably a substantial portion of the remaining acid groups is neutralized with calcium, for example:

In practice, the treatment is performed with chemically neutral (pH'6 to 7.5) solutions of the partial calcium salt containing typically from about L5 to about 2.5 mols of calcium per mol of the polyakylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

Where the polykis phosphonic acids are made from mixtures of the polyalkylene amines, as in the case of example 1, the calciumneutralized acid will be a mixture of the calcium salts of the various acids, as will be understood by those skilled in this art.

Further, like salts of the other polyalkylene polyamino polykis phosphonic acidsdescribed above may be used.

This treatment will inhibit the deposition of scale in the formation at the locus of the well surface. Due to the pressure and temperature gradient through which the formation fluids pass, in cases where the oil is mixed with water, scale deposition at the well locus is encountered. The scale deposits increase the flow resistance and reduce the rateof flow, i.e., the well production rate.

It is the purpose of the well treatment of my invention to deposit in the formation adjacent to the well, in the flow patterns of the well, a reservoir of the scale inhibitors of my invention. As the oil and water flow through the areas of the reservoir, they will dissolve some of the deposited inhibitor in quantities sufficient to inhibit and ideally to prevent scale deposition.

As will be seen by reference to the above, the solubility of the calcium salt depends on the pH of the solution, being highest at low pH and least at high pH.

1 take advantage of this property to deposit the calcium salt in the formation by establishing a high pH, to cause the deposition of the alkaline earth saltsin the formation. Because of the limited quantity of the deposited salts, no plugging or substantially increased resistance to fluid flow is encountered. When the formation waters, which are of relatively low pH, in the neighborhood of 6.5 to 7, pass over the calcium salt which is deposited at the higher pH, by the formation fluid and acts to inhibit scale formation and corrosion of the'lines, pumps and tankage.

l inject intotheformation a quantity of the water solution of the calcium salt at a pH of about 6 to about 7.5. The quantity injected will depend on the distance to which the injection is desired and the volume of the oil formation in which the salt is to be deposited, giving due regard to the other parameters of the oil formation.

lfollowthis injection with an alkaline water solution, for example, a KOH, NaOH or calcium hydroxide solution, in order to raise the pH of the environment of the injected calcium salt to precipitate the salt on the grains of the formation. As the formation fluid is produced, the water content which is at a lower pH will dissolve some of the salt; and, because of the inhibitor action of the salt, will prevent the formation of scale on the well face and the well locus and flow lines.

The following is one example of this application of my method to a producing oil well.

A' well which, due to scaling, reduced to barrels per day, well was shut down,

had its production rate cutting 80 percent water. The and] 10 gallons of the calcium salt of compounds produced according to example 1 in 50 percent by weight solution at a pHof 7 were introducedinto the well, which had been suitably drawn down,

The compound in the well was pressured with barrels of production water, to force the calcium salt solution into the fonnation.

A solution of Ca(OH of 100 pounds dissolved in 4 barrels of water was pressured into the fon'nation. This was followed with 300 barrels of produced water, to push the injected reagents into the. formation to the depth required. The flow return showed that the formation fluid picked up the inhibitor and that the system was protected.

The following data give the concentration of the compound in the formation fluid, expressed as parts per million of phosphate ion, determined in the manner described above.

Immediately after treatment: 2 weeks later:

5 weeks later:

4 months later:

75 p.p.m. PO, ion 75 prp.m. PO, ion 40 p.p.m. PO, ion 20 ppm. PO, ion

the salt dissolves and is carried,

from water solutions containing the same. which comprises adding to the solution from 2 I 200 p.p.m. of polyalkylene olyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid. or salts thereof, having the constitutional formula:

whe re MOz l where M and M are hydrogen, alkali metal or an equivalent of a polyvalent metal ion or ammonium or amine radical, or salts thereof.

2. The process of claim 1, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

3. The process of claim 1, in which said salt is an alicyclio polyamine salt.

4. The process ofclaim 1, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.

5. The process of claim 1, in which R is C H 6. The process of claim I, in which R is C H and n is l, 2, or 3.

7. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salt from water solutions containing the same which comprises adding to the solution from 2 to 200 p.p.m. ofa mixture of dihexylene triamino pentakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof and trihexylene tetramino hexakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof.

8. The process of claim 7, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

9. The process of claim 7, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.

10. The process of claim 7, in which said salt is a salt of 01711350 NHCgH4NHCzH NHz.

11. The process of claim 7, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.

12. The process of claim 11, in which the substituted morpholine is a mixture of bis-2(4 morpholinyl) ethyl ether, 4(2-aminoethoxy) ethyl morpholine, and 2(4-morpholinyl ethoxy) ethanol.

13. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salts from water solutions containing the same, which comprises adding to the water solution from 2 to 200 p.p.m. of polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid. or salts thereof. having the constitutional formula:

is phosphonic acid alkylene amino methylene phosphonic acid radical containing n moieties, where R is alkylene radical in an uninterrupted chain of from two up to 12 carbons and n is from 1 to 5 moieties, in which at least one ofthe moieties contains an R of at least 6 carbon atoms, and Y is a methylene phosphonic acid radical:

where ll M10 0 where M and M are hydrogen, alkali metal or an equivalent of a polyvalent metal ion or ammonium or amine radical, or salts thereof; said composition being substantially free of unsubstituted analogue of the aforesaid polyalkylene polyamino polykis phosphonic acids or salts thereof.

14. The process of claim 13, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

15. The process of claim 13, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.

16. The process of claim 13, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.

17. The process of claim 13, in which R is C H 18. The process of claim 13, in which R is C H and n is l, 2, or 3.

19. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salts from water solutions containing the same which comprises ad ding to the water solution from 2 to p.p.m. ofa mixture of dihexylene triamino pentakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts there of and trihexylene tetramino hexakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof, said acids or salts thereof being substantially free of unsubstituted analogue of the aforesaid polyalkylene polyamine polykis phosphonic acid or salts thereof.

20. The process of claim 19, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.

21. The process of claim 19, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.

22. The process of claim 19, in which said salt is a salt of 23. The process of claim 19. in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.

24. The process of claim 23. in which the substituted morpholine is a mixture of bis-2(4 morpholinyl) ethyl ether, 4 (Z-aminoethoxy) ethyl morpholine, and 2 (4-morpholinyl ethoxy) ethanol.

$912.2? UNITED STATES PA'IENT OFFICE J/ J I 1 CERTIFICATE OP CORRECIION Patent 3,619,427 Dated November 9. 1971 GEORGE J. KAUTSKY lnventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r l. Column 3, lines 24, 30 and 41: Change "phosphorous" to -phosphorus 2. Column 3, line 33: Change "phosphene" to -phosphine- 3. Colunm 3, lines 43, 49 and 5 Change "phospho ic" to -phosphorous- 4. Column 5, lines 25, 36 and 56: Change "phosphonic" to -phosphorous- 5. Column 6, line 58: Change "phosphoric" to phosphonic- 6. In Table I, column 6, formula 6: "Potassium salt of N-Y should be Potassium salt of N-Y 7. Formula 7, column 6: r

-\ w--NY should be N-Y -Y 2 8. Formula 8, column 6:

YZ-N-(CHZ) 6 N"Y3 should be Y2-1"'(CH2)6 NY2 9. Column 12, line 43: Change the formula RCOONHR NBPR NH to RCONHR NHR NH 10. Column 12, lines 45 to 50: Change C H 5g3-ONHC H NHC H NH UNITED S'IA'lES PA'IENT OFFICE w 1 w r (115 i l l ICA1 IL ()F (JORRILC l IQN Patent No. 619 427 D d November 71 GEORGE J. KAUTSKY PAGE 2 It is ccrtifgiod that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LCtLCITS Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

11. Column 12, line 43: Change "alkyl" to --alkylenel2. Claim 13 The formula should appear as follows:

P O I a o ofl'gucflz n n 1 ,CI 2 ca N- (CH 6 -N* (@11 1 ca 0 CH 1 CH2 4 2 QB? RO i 0:1 ,(Fcao M O a o c /O O H a O 2 /Q on H CHMPKO 1+ gtca Ca CH 12 l P270 omp o f 0 --Ca 0 13. Claim 3, column 15: Change "alicyclo" to -alicyclicl4. Claim 13, column 16, line 13: Cancel "phosbnonic acid" first occurrence and insert -an in place thereof.

Signed and sealed this th day of July 1972} (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD DLFLETCHLR, Jli. ROBERT (:(JTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Comm? 931' nnet of Pntr-m lifl 

2. The process of claim 1, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.
 3. The process of claim 1, in which said salt is an alicyclio polyamine salt.
 4. The process of claim 1, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.
 5. The process of claim 1, in which R is C6H12.
 6. The process of claim 1, in which R is C6H12 and n is 1, 2, or
 3. 7. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salt from water solutions containing the same whIch comprises adding to the solution from 2 to 200 p.p.m. of a mixture of dihexylene triamino pentakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof and trihexylene tetramino hexakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof.
 8. The process of claim 7, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.
 9. The process of claim 7, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.
 10. The process of claim 7, in which said salt is a salt of
 11. The process of claim 7, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.
 12. The process of claim 11, in which the substituted morpholine is a mixture of bis-2(4 morpholinyl) ethyl ether, 4(2-aminoethoxy) ethyl morpholine, and 2(4-morpholinyl ethoxy) ethanol.
 13. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salts from water solutions containing the same, which comprises adding to the water solution from 2 to 200 p.p.m. of polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid, or salts thereof, having the constitutional formula: where is phosphonic acid alkylene amino methylene phosphonic acid radical containing n moieties, where R is alkylene radical in an uninterrupted chain of from two up to 12 carbons and n is from 1 to 5 moieties, in which at least one of the moieties contains an R of at least 6 carbon atoms, and Y is a methylene phosphonic acid radical: where M1 and M2 are hydrogen, alkali metal or an equivalent of a polyvalent metal ion or ammonium or amine radical, or salts thereof; said composition being substantially free of unsubstituted analogue of the aforesaid polyalkylene polyamino polykis phosphonic acids or salts thereof.
 14. The process of claim 13, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.
 15. The process of claim 13, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.
 16. The process of claim 13, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.
 17. The process of claim 13, in which R is C6H12.
 18. The process of claim 13, in which R is C6H12 and n is 1, 2, or
 3. 19. A process of inhibiting the precipitation of calcium salts from water solutions containing the same which comprises adding to the water solution from 2 to 100 p.p.m. of a mixture of dihexylene triamino pentakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts there of and trihexylene tetramino hexakis methylene phosphonic acid or salts thereof, said acids or salts thereof being substantially free of unsubstituted analogue of the aforesaid polyalkylene polyamine polykis phosphonic acid or salts thereof.
 20. The process of claim 19, in which the said salt is the partial calcium salt of said polyalkylene polyamino polykis methylene phosphonic acid.
 21. The process of claim 19, in which said salt is an alicyclic polyamine salt.
 22. The process of claim 19, in which said salt is a salt of
 23. The process of claim 19, in which the said salt is the salt of a substituted morpholine.
 24. The process of claim 23, in which the substituted morpholine is a mixture of bis-2(4 morpholinyl) ethyl ether, 4 (2-aminoethoxy) ethyl morpholine, and 2 (4-morpholinyl ethoxy) ethanol. 